Category: News & Politics

National News & Politics Today's Special

What Celebrities Tweeted On 72nd Republic Day?

HT News

Today the country is celebrating its 72nd Republic Day. It was on this day in 1950 that the constitution of India came into force. Since then, 26th January is celebrated as Republic Day in the country. On this day, everyone including eminent personalities and celebrities extend their wishes to the country.

72nd-Republic-Day

PM Modi’s Republic Day plan

Before the Republic Day celebrations start, PM Modi would visit the National War Memorial near India Gate and lay wreath on the memorial to pay solemn tributes to the fallen heroes. Afterwards, the PM will move to the dais at the Rajpath to witness the Republic Day parade. It will be a 90-minute parade that will showcase the military prowess of the country.

Parade under the shadow of pandemic

Due to pandemic, only 25,000 visitors are allowed at Rajpath. Earlier, lakhs of visitors used to sit at Rajpath to watch the parade. Also, the parade will be shorter this year and it will conclude at the national Stadium instead of marching towards the Red Fort.

Celebrities tweeted best wishes to the nation

Amitabh Bachchan tweeted some of his pictures with his best wishes. Sonu Sood also sent his best wishes for the 72nd Republic Day. He had become a national during nationwide lockdown for helping common men.

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News & Politics

Following Metro Stations Will Remain Closed On Republic Day 2021

HT News

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has an update for commuters that want to enjoy a ride in Metro on the Republic Day 2021. DMRC has decided to services at a few Metro stations citing security reasons. And it wants people to take note of the Republic Day 2021 plans so that they enjoy uninterrupted services as usual.

Metro stations that will remain closed for the Republic Day 2021 celebrations

Delhi Metro has announced partial closure of its services from four Metro stations around Rajpath in the morning hours. These stations are Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan, Patel Chowk and Lok Kalyan Marg Metro station. The Metro rail services won’t be available from these four stations. While entry and exit to these Metro stations will remains suspended for the duration of the Republic Day 2021 celebrations, commuters will be allowed to change trains at Central Secretariat Metro station.

Parking for vehicles will also remain closed at Metro stations

Parking of the above-mentioned Metro stations will be closed for public from the morning of 25th January to the noon of 26th January until celebrations are over. The close timing will be from 6 AM on 25th January to 2 PM on 26th January. No vehicle will be allowed to park at the said Metro stations in the closing hour.

DMRC tweeted to share the information and it wants the public to share the information further to aware others as well. If you are planning to use Metro on the Republic Day 2021, you should avoid visiting the said stations.

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Business News & Politics

What Is The Response To IRFC IPO?

HT News

KFin Technologies Private Limited could finalise the allotment of shares in IRFC IPO today. The said company is managing the allotment and refund of IRFC shares. Investors can check the website of the said company to get more information on allotment of shares. The information will also be available on BSE website. Listing of shares could go on January 29.

IRFC IPO

Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) opened its IPO on January 18 and closed on January 20 after receiving bids for 4,35,22,57,225 shares against 1,24,75,05,993 shares on offer. The subscription ratio of the retail individual investors segment, Qualified Institutional Buyers category and non-institutional investors was 3.66 times, 3.78 times and 2.67 times respectively. The IPO was offered at ₹25-26 per share and the IRFC raised about ₹1,400 crore from anchor investors ahead of the IPO.

The government wants to bring its shareholding in IRFC to 86.4% from 100% with the IPO that was subscribed nearly 3.5 times. The total IPO is of 178.20 crore shares and it comprises a fresh issue of 118.80 crore shares and sale of 59.40 crore shares. The government expects raising a capital of ₹1,544 crore from the IPO.

What is IRFC?

Indian Railway Finance Corporation raises funds for Indian Railways from domestic as well as overseas market. Dedicated for fund mobilisation, IRFC the first non-banking financial company (NBFC) offering an IPO. Leading brokerage companies recommended subscribe for IRFC IPO leading to a huge response from the public. The experts have done attractive valuation. Also, they expect healthy return ratios for the investors.

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News & Politics Today's Special

Could BJP Get Political Mileage With Parakram Diwas In West Bengal?

HT News

The Government of India has declared birthday of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on 23rd January as “Parakram Diwas”. PM Modi will visit Kolkata on the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji to start the celebrations.

PM Modi addressed the people of Bengal as dear sisters and brothers of West Bengal. He said that he was honoured to in their midst that too on the auspicious day of “Parakram Diwas”. During the programmes in Kolkata, the nation would pay tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Highlights of PM’s West Bengal visit

• The visit will start with visiting Netaji Bhawan at Elgin Road followed by an inaugural function of the “Parakram Diwas” celebration at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata
• Visit Jerenga Pathar in Sivasagar, Assam where PM will distribute 1.06 lakh land pattas/allotment certificates
• PM will also release a commemorative coin and postage stamp on Netaji
• Visit to National Library, Kolkata for an international conference “Re-visiting the legacy of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in the 21st Century”
• Amra Nuton Jouboneri Doot, a cultural programme based on Netaji’s life will be held
• PM will also inaugurate a permanent exhibition and a Projection Mapping show on Netaji

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also has plans for several events related to the birth anniversary of Netaji. She will also visit different places and attend celebrations.

Political importance of Parakram Diwas

West Bengal is witnessing a massive political rivalry between BJP and TMC. Many bigwigs of TMC have switched sides to BJP and more switchovers are expected post the Parakram Diwas.

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International News & Politics

Capturing Carbon Emission Technology Can Get You $100 Million Prize

HT News

Inspired by the inaugural speed of president Joe Biden, Tesla Inc chief and billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk announced a $100 million prize to encourage development of technology to capture carbon emission. He said on Twitter that the best technology will get the award.

Capturing carbon emission

It is fast becoming a crucial part of plans made to cut carbon footprint. But there’s little progress registered in this field as all efforts are put at reducing carbon emission than taking carbon dioxide out of the air. But the shift in approach was noticed last year when the International Energy Agency highlighted the need to develop a technology that can capture carbon emission. According to the agency, only this technology can help meet the net-zero emission target.

$100 million prize

The announcement was made on Twitter by Elon Musk. Also, the billionaire entrepreneur said that he would provide more details in his second tweet. Tesla officials were approached for further information on the prize but they didn’t give any response.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk is heading a couple of futuristic companies in addition to Tesla. He has a rocket company named SpaceX. Also, he owns a startup Neuralink that is developing technology to allow human brain to connect to computers.

Joe Biden on climate change

In his inaugural speech, president Biden pledged to work on developing carbon capture technology to manage climate change. He even named Jennifer Wilcox as his principal deputy assistant secretary for fossil energy at the US Department of Energy. Wilcox is an expert in carbon removal technologies.

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International News & Politics

What Did Jack Ma Say In Live Video?

HT News

It was less than a minute appearance but the video of Jack Ma on Wednesday provided a sigh of relief to the investors that that had been waiting for months for Jack Ma to break his silence over his mysterious disappearance.

What was the Jack Ma video?

A clip of Jack Ma speaking to a group of teachers in a live-streamed video began circulating on Wednesday. He last appeared on the screen in October when he lambasted Chinese regulators and state-owned banks. After that video, Jack Ma disappeared from the business world triggering speculations of Chinese authorities punishing Jack Ma with jail term or a takeover of his companies. But the Wednesday’s video put a period over those speculations.

What did Jack Ma talk about in the video?

He was talking philanthropy with teachers. He discussed the importance of narrowing income disparities and reviving countryside of the country. And it can’t be a coincidence that these two topics are in the priority list of the Xi Jinping’s Communist Party. It is to be noted that Chinese government had detained entrepreneurs that didn’t fall in line. And investors expected that Jack Ma met the same fate.

What was the controversy over Jack Ma?

Jack Ma had plans to take Ante Group Co. public but Chinese government torpedoed the plan that would have been the biggest-ever initial share sale of the world. And it happened soon after Jack Ma criticized the Chinese regulators. Some analysts also said that Communist Part was wary of a few billionaires concentrating maximum business of the world’s second largest economy.

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International News & Politics

How Did The US Welcome Its 46th President?

HT News

Joe Biden became the 46th President of the US on Wednesday with a promise to bring the US out of the health crisis it is in. And after the swearing-in, he reversed the divisive policies of the earlier regime.

Addressing a virtually empty National Mall Biden said that democracy was precious, democracy was fragile and at that hour democracy had prevailed. There was ultra-tight security due to prevent Trump supporters from storming the ceremony and due to the pandemic.

2015 Paris climate accord

Soon after entering the Oval Office, Joe Biden signed the 2015 Paris climate accord from which the US had withdrawn under Trump. Biden said that they were going to fight climate change in a way they had not done so far. The deal was negotiated when Joe Biden was vice president of America.

Inaugural address of Joe Biden

Joe Biden addressed all Americans including Trump supporters that ransacked Capitol Hill in a bid to restore Trump administration. Biden said that he would be a president for all Americans. The veteran Democrat further said that the US was facing a rise of political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism and that the US would defeat all the negative powers.

Highlights of Joe Biden inauguration

• Washington was sealed by 25,000 National Guards
• Joe Biden said that toughest and deadliest period was still ahead
• He called to set aside politics and face the pandemic as a nation
• While the streets were empty, Biden brought in the celebrity power

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International News & Politics

Health Will Be The Priority At Joe Biden’s Swearing In

HT News

Today, the US would get its 46th President and 49th Vice President with the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Joe Biden and his deputy Kamala Harris. The ceremony will begin with singing of the national anthem and an invocation followed by poetry recitation, musical performances and a benediction ceremony.

Health is the top priority

The swearing-in ceremony will take place amid the pandemic that has infected over 2.4 crore people and claimed lives of 3.9 lakh patients. According to the official website bideninaugural.com, the priority will be to keep people healthy while following the inaugural traditions of America.

Since health is the only priority, the inaugural ceremony will have limited footprint. The “Parade Across America” will be televised for people. It will feature diverse and dynamic performances by noted actors and artists including Olympic athletes and everyday American heroes.

Pass in Review

The long-standing military tradition of Pass in Review will follow the swearing-in ceremony of the President-elect and the Vice President. Attended by President-elect, First Lady, Vice President-elect, and Second Gentleman, the Pass in Review reflects the peaceful transfer of power to the new Commander-in-Chief.

Wreath laying ceremony

Joe Biden, Dr Jill Biden, Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff will lay wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery. They will be accompanied by several former presidents. After this ceremony, Joe Biden will receive a Presidential Escort … Read the rest

News & Politics Spiritual

Ayodhya Mosque Construction Will Start On January 26

HT News

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) trust will start construction of the Ayodhya mosque at the prescribed five-acre plot on January 26. Also, it has planned a plantation drive and raising of the national flag to mark the beginning of the project.

Reason given for plantation drive

IICF said that it wanted to highlight the cause of climate change with plantation drive and give the message that climate change was the biggest threat to humanity. The upcoming mosque includes a green area that will have plants from all geographic regions and varieties from Amazon rainforest to bushfires in Australia to aware people about the challenge of climate change.

It will be a modern design

The IICF unveiled a futuristic design with beautiful mosque featuring a massive glass dome sitting in a picturesque garden. Also, a hospital building is seen just behind the mosque. But IICF also intends constructing an Indo-Islamic cultural research centre, library, museum, publication house and a community kitchen.

The nine trustees of the foundation recently held a meeting to discuss the design and clearances for foreign contribution from Income Tax Department. They also discussed issues related to the new design and decided to apply to the Ayodhya District Board to allow construction of library and other facilities.

Settlement of Ayodhya dispute

Supreme Court in its November 2020 verdict made it clear that the disputed site at Ayodhya belonged to Lord Ram but it also ordered a suitable place be allotted for construction of a mosque.

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International News & Politics

More Bodies Found In The Quake Hit Indonesia

HT News

Rescue operation in the quake hit Indonesia is on the full swing with more bodies retrieved from under the debris. A total of 56 lives were lost due to 6.2 magnitude earthquake. Military engineers are working hard to make way for relief goods.

Relief work reaches to the hardest hit places

Raditya Jati, spokesperson to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s spokesperson, said that Mamuju and the neighboring district of Majene on Sulawesi island were the hardest-hit places by the quake that left 47 dead in Mamuju and 9 in Majene. Also, over 800 were injured and thousands were left homeless. According to agency data, the quake damaged 415 homes in Majene and forced over 15,000 people to shelter homes.

The provincial capital city of Mamuju had debris all over. The quake brought the governor’s building and a shopping mall down to earth. Also, the two hospitals suffered damages.

Relief reaches the worst hit places

The army corps engineers managed to reopen ruptured roads to allow relief goods to reach the devasted cities. More heavy equipment reached the hardest hit cities allowing the army engineers to allow road connectivity. They even built a damaged bridge to provide quick access to relief workers.

Earlier quakes

Indonesia is frequented by earthquakes due to its location in the Ring Of Fire in the Pacific Ocean. It was recently hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake in 2018. It devasted the Palu City killing over 4,000 people. An even bigger 9.1 magnitude quake hit Indonesia in 2004. It killed 230,000 people in different countries.

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